The Brother I Never Knew: The Power of a Hug  

In the wake of the tragic events of October 7, unlikely yet remarkable human connections have emerged out of shared purpose and resilience. Through their collaboration, they developed new perspectives and understanding of the other’s world, and achieved something greater than themselves, as they learned to see beyond differences, bridging divides that once seemed insurmountable. Here are their stories.

When Meir Tubul’s son was killed in Gaza in December 2023, Meir became angry at G-d, shaking his fist at the Almighty and refusing to do any of His mitzvos. But an embrace from Mendy Henig, a Biala chassid who took upon himself to do something important for bereaved families, brought back the spark of hope.

After Seargent Major Asaf Pinchas Hy”d, died in combat last winter, his father Meir Tubul — a typical Sabra with a tough personality and a sweet, kind nature — didn’t need anyone telling him anything.

“After my son’s death, I got tired of hearing certain phrases. For example, that G-d takes the ‘best ones,’ ” he says. “It’s pretty ironic. If He takes the best, what are those of us left here on earth? The worst?”

He pauses.

“Another thing I don’t like is when people tell me that Avraham Avinu was willing to sacrifice his son. First of all, I’m not Avraham Avinu. But also, no one asked me.”

Meir, 67, and his wife, Esther, who live in Kiryat Motzkin, a city near Haifa in northern Israel, are typical mesorati (traditional) Jews. Meir, the grandson of a dayan on the Baba Sali’s beit din, is the semiretired Israel logistics director for Philip Morris, the tobacco company. Asaf Pinchas, the youngest of their seven children and a member of Battalion 77, died in combat in southern Gaza on December 27, 2023. After his death, the Tubuls weren’t interesting in being involved in anything.